Volunteer Franklin County is one of 16 organizations selected to participate in Volunteer Florida's BEST Neighborhoods initiative. If you are interested in "Neighboring" or Assest Based Community Developement please check out these videos.

Our goals at Volunteer Franklin County are:

Develop an internet based volunteer network (volunteerfranklincounty.com) that matches volunteers to opportunities within the county.

Develop and implement a marketing campaign which creates an awareness about the benefits of volunteerism, promotes Volunteerfranklincounty.com and markets volunteer opportunities.

Complete the Volunteer Resource Center (VRC) as a hub for training and recruitment of volunteers (critical in disasters) and a resource for agencies to enhance their programs.

Establish and implement a county wide volunteer awards ceremony where all volunteers are recognized and organizations present their “Volunteers of the Year” (September 2011).

Develop a model volunteer program to assist rural counties with their volunteer needs. Create an online “tool kit” of resources that assist other rural communities in developing volunteer programs.

Support no less than 9 volunteer projects across the county before September 1, 2011. Those projects are:

Thank you Volunteer Florida!

TALLAHASSEE – Volunteer Florida CEO Wendy Spencer announced the recipients of $272,000 in grants made available to Florida organizations through the Volunteer Generation Fund Initiative, Build-Engage-Sustain-Transform (BEST) Neighborhoods. The BEST Neighborhoods grant is based on “neighboring,” a model concept of community engagement that uses volunteering as a tool to empower, mobilize and facilitate positive changes within communities.

“I am thrilled to partner with these organizations throughout our state to strategically reinstate a strong sense of community in our neighborhoods,” said CEO Spencer. “Every resident in a community has something to offer that can help a neighbor, and the BEST model will build upon these existing frameworks and utilize the strength of local connections for the collective good of our state.”

The BEST program is designed to address needs in Florida counties with poverty levels of 16 percent or higher, and also counties affected by the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Organizations who were awarded grant monies were selected based on their abilities to address one or more of the following areas in qualifying counties: economic recovery, education, disaster preparedness, environment and human needs. In total, 16 grants were awarded covering 17 counties throughout Florida.

The BEST Neighborhoods grant is a three-year program contingent upon federal funding. Volunteer Florida was one of 19 state commissions to receive a Volunteer Generation Fund Grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service for its administration and implementation.